Megan McCracken
Hometown | Cortland, Ohio
Major | Civil Engineering
Company | Turner Construction Company
Location | Cleveland, Ohio
Position | MEP Engineering Intern
Megan McCracken, civil engineering student at The University of Akron.
What are your general co-op duties?
My general co-op duties include tracking pricing for changes made by the project owner, managing and closing MEP-specific in-field observations, and leading a portion of our weekly asset-tagging meetings.
What surprises/unexpected outcomes have your experienced on co-op?
I was surprised by how much I’ve been able to do as an intern. When I first started, I assumed I wouldn’t be able to contribute much as a second-year student. However, I quickly realized that the skills I’ve gained through my involvement at UA have prepared me to be successful in my co-op.
What has been the coolest part of your co-op experience?
The coolest part of my co-op experience has been seeing how much work goes into the everyday things we often take for granted. There is so much to learn in the construction industry, as each unique design presents new challenges to solve, which makes all the effort behind those details worthwhile.
How will your co-op influence your career?
My co-op experience has been incredibly valuable because it has given me the opportunity to explore different career paths before committing to a company after graduation. I’m also developing skills now that will help set me apart in the future.
What have you learned as a co-op that you wouldn't have learned from your coursework?
One of the main things I’ve learned as a co-op that I wouldn’t have gained from coursework is how to coordinate and communicate with different companies. While coursework builds knowledge and foundational skills, communication and coordination are best developed through hands-on experience, which a co-op provides.